I have to admit, I had another rec list planned for today (one that I keep meaning to do but I still haven’t got the perfect ten books), so instead, I’m following Anna’s suggestion of translated LGBT lit. Some time last year, I decided to challenge myself to read a book from every country in the world and, in part, this is a result of that. So, let’s make 2024 the year of opening horizons and reading in translation!
In making this list, I’ve tried to keep from adding books that I had on the classics rec list (which was only a few anyway) from some years back. There is, however, more overlap between this and the various lists we did in 2021 for Pride Month. Those are longer lists, though, so if you read this list and you want more recs, go check them out!
Before we start, if you’re reading this post, please take the time to visit gazafunds.com (@gazafunds on twitter), where you’ll find any number of campaigns from Gazans to share and donate to. Every time you refresh, you’ll see a new campaign spotlighted. You can also “adopt” a campaign, which means repeatedly sharing it online to keep it in people’s awareness and collect donations. So, please do!
The Remainder
Alia Trabucco Zerán, trans. by Sophie Hughes
Goodreads
Rep: Chilean cast & setting, sapphic mcs, achillean mc
Why Should I Read It?
Who else likes stories they can describe, succintly, as “weird little books”? Well, this one is for you guys! It’s set about a generation following a dictatorship in Chile, following the children of ex-militants. One of them is accompanying her mother’s body back home, only for it to be lost in transit. Another finds herself at a loss and offers to accompany the first on her journey to retrieve the coffin. And the last, he sees ghosts on every corner, counting out their deaths in the vain hope of reaching some kind of equilibrium. Possibly one of my favourite reads so far this year.
Kiss of the Spider Woman
Manuel Puig, trans. by
Goodreads
Rep: Argentinian cast & setting, gay mc
Why Should I Read It?
You may have heard of the film of this book in advance of the book and, if so, let me just say, the format of the book works way better for the story than the film did imo (although, it’s hard to translate this one from page to screen, I’ll allow). It’s sparsely written, but it’s so very good at evoking emotions within you despite that (or perhaps, because of that).
Quicksand
Jun’ichiro Tanizaki, trans. by Howard Hibbett
Goodreads
Rep: Japanese cast, sapphic mc & li
Why Should I Read It?
The toxicity of the central relationships of this one are really its main draw. I admit, I don’t remember an enormous amount of this one plotwise, just that it’s deliciously twisted. This is a classic that you don’t want to miss out on!
Fair Play
Tove Jansson, trans. by Thomas Teal
Goodreads
Rep: lesbian mcs
Why Should I Read It?
Something about Fair Play gave me very similar feelings to Toni Mirosevich’s Spell Heaven which, given that that’s one of my all time favourites, is a very good thing. It’s a short book, split into sort of vignettes rather than full stories, but those vignettes are so very good at opening the door on the older lesbian couple that inhabits the story.
La Bastarda
Trifonia Melibea Obono, trans. by Lawrence Schimel
Goodreads
Rep: Fang cast, lesbian mc, gay & lesbian side characters
CWs: homophobia, sexual assault, implied incest, rape & femicide
Why Should I Read It?
La Bastarda is the story of a young girl in Equatorial Guinea becoming aware of her burgeoning sexuality and lesbianism, and the people who help her along the way. It is, on occasion, a brutal read but one that’s also full of hope.
A Country for Dying
Abdellah Taïa, trans. by Emma Ramadan
Goodreads
Rep: Algerian transfem mc, Iranian gay character
CWs: misgendering, internalised transphobia, implied misogynistic violence
Why Should I Read It?
I realise I’ve picked quite a few heavy hitting books in this list, but something about them draws me at the minute. This one is the tale of characters on the margins of Parisian society, the relationships they form with one another and the strength they draw from them. It’s one that will leave you thinking about it for a long while after you finish.
Sphinx
Anne Garréta, trans. by Emma Ramadan
Goodreads
Rep: agender li
Why Should I Read It?
I admit, I read Sphinx mostly for the linguistic feat of it: this is a book that never genders its main character or love interest. Which, let’s be honest, is a harder prospect in French (the original language) than English, but Emma Ramadan also does a phenomenal job of maintaining that aspect in her translation. Of course this isn’t the only reason you should read it — it’s also a compelling story in its own right — but hey, it’s pretty damn cool!
Pina
Titaua Peu, trans. by Jeffrey Zuckerman
Goodreads
Rep: Tahitian cast, gay mc
CWs: implied child sexual abuse, domestic abuse, rape, suicide attempt
Why Should I Read It?
Pina is the story of a Tahitian family, centred on the eponymous Pina, the youngest daughter. It’s a family that has, at the start of the book, fallen apart in a number of ways, and the story is really about how they find themselves drawn back together. Yes, it’s another heavy one, so I would suggest checking content warnings first, but it’s very much worth it.
Saman
Ayu Utami, trans. by Pamela Allen
Goodreads
Rep: Indonesian cast & setting, bi mc
CWs: rape, torture
Why Should I Read It?
Another classic now, this time of Indonesian literature. In this one, we follow four young Indonesians, centred around Saman himself. It’s a multitude of stories in one: about an Indonesian activist amongst the oppression of plantation workers, about religion and spirituality, about love and women’s sexuality. It’s a thought-provoking read and a book that, for me, deserves a slot in worlds’ classics canon.
Cobalt Blue
Sachin Kundalkar, trans. by Jerry Pinto
Goodreads
Rep: Indian cast, gay mc & li
Why Should I Read It?
Perhaps you’ve seen the film of this one, a story of a brother and sister who both fall for the same boy. It’s a wistful little tale, not tragic, but with a certain undercurrent of anguish all the same. It’s about love and how, sometimes, it’s still not enough. And maybe sometimes it is. (So, yeah, perhaps have some chocolate with you on hand when you finish this one.)
What would you rec?
